Sheng Chenjin's face also gradually became serious, his gaze fixed on a room around the corner.
He gestured to Shi Xinxin, "Elder Feng and Jiang Ling should be in that lounge, 205."
Just then, footsteps echoed from the stairs, along with the sound of plates clinking against wine glasses, as if a waiter was coming up.
Without time to consider if Sheng Chenjin's information was correct, Shi Xinxin quickly grabbed him and they hid in another room adjacent to 205.
Closing the door, Shi Xinxin immediately turned her attention to surveying the room.
"No one is in the room, I had the manager here prepare it in advance," Sheng Chenjin told her.
"Hmm, I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful. I'll hire you for any jobs in the future," Shi Xinxin's previously somber heart finally felt a little lighter.
She slowly moved her feet, her high heels making no sound on the carpet, step by step approaching the wall separating her from room 205.
Sheng Chenjin sent a message on the side, instructing Bai Feng to keep a close watch around the hotel. If any suspicious personnel appeared, regardless of their identity, they were to be questioned thoroughly.
Meanwhile, Shi Xinxin slowly approached the wall, gently placing her ear against it. She was startled and quickly focused on listening to the sounds next door.
But soon, Shi Xinxin frowned with a hint of worry. The hotel's good reputation wasn't for nothing; the soundproofing materials alone must have cost a fortune.
Even when Shi Xinxin tried to find the weakest point to listen, she could only make out vague words, which, when combined, were a jumbled mess.
Sheng Chenjin had finished dealing with matters outside and walked over, asking softly, "What's wrong?"
Shi Xinxin replied succinctly, "The walls are soundproof, I can't hear what they're saying next door."
As she spoke, her unfocused gaze suddenly landed on a certain spot, and an idea instantly struck her.
Sheng Chenjin raised an eyebrow slightly, watching her pick up a decorative item from the table and then quickly return it to its original place.
She brought the outer side of the decorative item close to the wall and her ear close to the inner side. The sounds from next door, transmitted through the air waves into this trumpet-like silver object, made the voices Shi Xinxin heard several times clearer than before.
Although still a bit fuzzy, she could at least piece together the words they were saying into sentences and understand the general meaning.
At the same time, in room 205 next door, Jiang Ling sat on a brown leather sofa, his fingers resting lightly on the armrest, tapping rhythmically.
On the sofa opposite him, a vibrant middle-aged man was speaking, his eyes filled with the gleam of impending victory.
"Director Jiang, it's been a long time."
Jiang Ling gave him a slight glance. "Yes, it's only been a year since we last met."
If Shi Xinxin were standing here now, she might recognize this older man speaking as Elder Feng's capable assistant.
Of course, through the conversation transmitted by the silver decorative item, her eyes slowly darkened as she realized this person was Feng Xiao.
Feng Xiao, Elder Feng's only capable assistant, knew all of Elder Feng's secrets, but at the same time, he was incredibly loyal to Elder Feng. He had once been captured by an organization, and they tried to pry Elder Feng's secrets out of him. He endured severe torture without revealing a single word.
This was precisely why Shi Xinxin hadn't sought his collaboration.
"Director Jiang, as you know, many renowned groups outside have sought my cooperation, but I've refused them all. My only desire is to partner with the Jiang family."
Jiang Ling's gaze lazily drifted to a random spot, it was unclear if he was paying attention to the man's words.
Feng Xiao's expression turned subtly unpleasant, but the thought of the highly effective agent Jiang Ling possessed made him bear with it.
"I've been anticipating this SIM pharmaceutical agent for a long time. I expressed my interest in purchasing this batch of medicine to you months ago. Do you remember?"
Jiang Ling feigned a moment of thought, then shook his head blankly. "I don't seem to recall. Perhaps I had too many meetings around that time and can't remember who approached me for cooperation."
Feng Xiao managed a stiff smile.
He could certainly feel Jiang Ling's perfunctory attitude, no, it wasn't perfunctory, it was outright disregard, as if he wasn't even being considered.
They had been discussing things smoothly before, and yet in just a few months, his attitude had completely changed? Feng Xiao began to harbor suspicions.
He couldn't help but think of Shi Xinxin. Her relationship with Jiang Ling was very good. Could it be that she was deliberately instigating trouble between Jiang Ling and him?
With this thought, Feng Xiao's hand tightened on the armrest, and the glint in his eyes ignited with a spark of anger.
It seemed that if this troublesome girl wasn't dealt with, Elder Feng's life would become even more chaotic.
Jiang Ling noticed the fleeting ferocity in Feng Xiao's eyes, and his own expression darkened. "Feng Xiao, what are you thinking about?"
Feng Xiao snapped back to attention, his demeanor returning to its usual gentle one, showing no trace of the previous ruthlessness, as if the glint in his eyes was merely a momentary lapse. "It's nothing. I just want to know, Director Jiang, do you or do you not have any intention of cooperating?"
Jiang Ling nodded. "Of course."
On the other side, as Shi Xinxin listened, her expression grew increasingly strange, and her brow furrowed slightly.
She turned to look at Sheng Chenjin, who was also looking at her, and asked with confusion, "Sheng Chenjin, wasn't it that foreign pharmaceutical magnate who was supposed to be discussing cooperation with Jiang Ling today?"
Sheng Chenjin couldn't hear what was being said next door, so he naturally didn't know who was there or what they were discussing.
He nodded. "Yes, I investigated. That pharmaceutical magnate is a rising star from abroad, originally of Chinese descent, who studied in three countries. His literary talent and intellect are top-notch."
Shi Xinxin nodded thoughtfully, then moved closer to listen to the conversation next door and returned to look at Sheng Chenjin. "But the person next door is that capable assistant to Elder Feng."
This was an outcome Sheng Chenjin hadn't anticipated at all. He immediately sensed that something was amiss. "Did you hear clearly? Are you sure that person is Elder Feng's assistant?"
Shi Xinxin nodded heavily. "Absolutely. Why would I lie to you?"
Sheng Chenjin suddenly thought of a possibility. He subtly glanced out the window at the dawn sky. "Is it possible that this capable assistant of Elder Feng has infiltrated the foreign Chinese magnate's company?"
This method of infiltrating companies was a common tactic of Elder Feng's. As soon as Shi Xinxin thought of Sheng Chenjin's words, she felt they held some truth.
"So," she mused, "Elder Feng isn't next door. He must be lying low somewhere. Have your people found anything new outside?"
Sheng Chenjin glanced at his phone and shook his head. "Bai Feng is personally leading people to guard the perimeter. There's no news yet."